I’m not a huge gamer, but I started Portal and Portal 2 during the lockdown and I find the endings to both games so immensely satisfying in so many ways. I’ve had to play through both several times now, in part just to get back to those endings.

Great choice! The film has its flaws, but I like it a lot.

Elaine May once quipped something like, if she had a nickel for everybody who hated Ishtar but hadn’t seen it, the movie would’ve done killer box office.

I think it’s fun as hell. There are dry spots, but I don’t think there as numerous or as long as some of the others here. One of the joys of watching, at least for me, are the many small, hilarious moments that make you think, “wait, this was a flop?”

But technically, milliners and haberdashers aren’t the same thing (their meanings change between the UK and US, but within both linguistic contexts they describe two different occupations).

In my hometown, it was available in every video store - like, even those corner shops that had a selection of 50 videos would have it. My friends and I loved it, so we’d rent it a lot (I think we thought the brother was funny, plus, boobies), and if was out at one place, you could easily find it at another.

Don’t forget Die Hard, regularly taught in university (and other) screenwriting courses. A near-perfect script.

If you’ve never read Barry Jenkins tweet-watch Notting Hill with no sound because it’s the woman next to him on a plane who’s watching it, you should:

Outlaw King is actually pretty good, and not too speechy. Chris Pine (for some reason???) plays Bruce, and while he’s committed to the cause, he’s not the “inspirational leader” type - in one scene (if I remember), he’s called on to rally the troops and he basically says, “let’s go kill those guys.” It’s really well…

I’d put this on the list of truly great American films. High praise, perhaps, but it is so superbly written, acted, directed; it gets the little things right (the Sox on the radio in every scene, etc.); little flourishes are so surprising and heartfelt, but earned (the hand on the pillow); and it deals with grief and…

Thanks! Yeah, like I said, great interview (Random Roles continues to be a highlight here), and I know he’s been in so many things. Was just curious to hear his thoughts on working with Bell. Like you said, great excuse for part 2 - stay healthy!

Great interview, and I know it’s hard to hit all the high points in these things, but dude was on a show with Kristen Bell for 5 YEARS, and that doesn’t deserve a question?

He’s so good in The Conversation, the way his jumpy need for Harry to approve of him actually serves to disrupts Harry’s cool at that point in the movie (and allows him to pull a fast one on not only Harry but also the audience). And I love the way in Nashville Barnett can wring a bit of empathy even though he’s such…

I love Jedi, much more than a lot of fans, I guess. Its release time landed during a movie-going sweet spot (I was 12), old enough now to really get the story, but young enough to still be wowed by all its components - including the Ewoks. One of the few movie places I’ve ever wanted to live is that tree village!

Thanks, I read it. Was just wondering if a bit more detail might be possible.

Bottle Rocket was a Gracie Films production, distributed by Columbia. Depending on how precise they’re being here about funding streams, etc., it seems like it might qualify for inclusion on the list, but probably not. Gracie Films was set up by James Brooks with 20th Century Fox, then later switched to a deal with…

Thanks, I teach this topic and know how tricky it can be - in fact, I often use Pulp Fiction as the starting point of the “rebirth” of American indie, to help orient students, only to then undermine the point by going back to Jarmusch then Casavettes then Shirley Clarke, etc., but also by questioning Pulp Fiction’s…

Did you have specific criteria for this list? Just curious. Like, I love Pulp Fiction, but wasn’t Miramax a Disney company by the time of its release? Is it “indie” by feel? Production? Distribution? I know it’s not an easy term to define in US cinema, but how did you all proceed?

He’s only got about 5-6 songs that run past 10 minutes. (even “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts,” which seems movie-length, clocks in at only 8.51). So it’s not like it’s de rigueur.

Doh, now seeing that Medium Talent had already posted it below!